On the heels of an FDA green light for its latest image-guided therapy system, GE HealthCare aims to place its Allia IGS Pulse at the center of the cath lab by making it compatible with a range of hardware from other device developers.
Up first will be Boston Scientific, with its Avvigo+ multi-modal guidance offering for percutaneous coronary interventions. In its announcement—timed with the kickoff of the annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference in San Francisco—GE HealthCare said the collaboration marks the start of a plan to build a “robust ecosystem” around Allia while providing “freedom of choice” for interventional cardiologists.
“As we work to evolve our core Allia platform, we continue to look for ways to reduce complexity and improve the operating environment,” Philip Rackliffe, president and CEO of GE HealthCare’s image-guided therapy business, said in a statement.
The Allia’s Interact Touch feature will allow healthcare providers to control up to three third-party devices at once through its touchscreen panel while maintaining a sterile environment, the company said.
“Our collaboration with Boston Scientific helps to bring this new ecosystem, rooted on the Allia platform, to life and will provide clinicians with access to innovative technology, multi-modality control and a seamless workflow experience—all with the touch of a button,” Rackliffe said.
The Allia IGS Pulse was cleared by the FDA earlier this month, built around a monopolar X-ray tube designed to operate at noise levels quieter than the typical conversation, while also offering a smaller footprint.
The system also features GE HealthCare’s AutoRight Plus artificial intelligence-powered software, designed to automatically manage seven imaging parameters in real time, such as X-ray focal spot shape and dose optimization.
According to the company, AutoRight will work with the Boston Scientific Avvigo+ system’s automated lesion assessment capabilities, using its intravascular ultrasound imaging catheters and machine learning algorithms to automatically identify blood vessel borders and diameters for stent placements.